Spill Resistant Tamper Evident Treat Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus. Because of the unique shape, size, and functioning of the apparatus, the apparatus prevents spills of contained treats regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus further prevents premature withdrawal of treats from the apparatus by the user (e.g. a child) or other unscrupulous third parties so that the collected treats may subsequently and conveniently be inspected after completion of treat collection (e.g. completion of trick-or-treating). The apparatus is preferably adapted such that if the apparatus is opened to gain access to the contents of the apparatus, such opening is rendered evident.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/331,374, filed May 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers for use in collecting treats and more especially for use when collecting treats during “trick-or-treating” or “guising”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Treat collection container are well known and for many years have been widely used in collecting treats when “trick-or-treating” or “guising”. Such treat containers are commonly of a generally spherical shape and include a large opening to provide ready access to the contents of the container. Further, such treat containers commonly provide in the shape of and to resemble certain creatures or characters known for the occasion such as jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, monsters, princesses, animals, etc. Many such treat collection containers have had certain features added such as lighting, sound, and wheeled structures. Examples of such containers are provided in the following list of US patents and applications, the whole of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,594,669, 6,869,199, 6,789,932, 6,619,810, 5,797,507, 20100001481, 20080284138, 20040104140, 20030174519, 20030086260, and 20020085369. Furthermore, spill resistant containers are also known and have been successfully used in various industries. Examples of such containers are provided in the following list of US patents and applications, the whole of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,246,046, 5,495,876, RE36,131, 5,832,969, 5,908,057, RE39,443, 6,386,138, 7,942,109, Ser. Nos. 09/707,156, 11/618,921, 12/539,803, and 29/359,140.

However, all such prior art treat collection devices, while useful in collecting and transporting treats, are highly prone to spillage. Spillage of the collected treats can be especially problematic for younger children. Inasmuch as such trick-or-treating it typically performed in the evening when it is dark, such spillage problem is compounded by the difficulty finding the spilled treats in the dark. Further, children engaged in trick-or-treating are often excited to maximize their collected treats and thus often exhibit little patience in waiting for another child who needs to find and re-collect spilled treats.

Yet another problem encountered with current treat collection containers is that they provide no means for regulating the withdrawal of such treats. One result of the lack of treat withdrawal regulation is that during the trick-or-treating process, a typically older/larger and unscrupulous child may readily reach into the container of another child and steal treats out of the open treat container of the younger child. Further, young children are often not well adapted to self regulating the amount of treats that they may consume during the trick-or-treating process. Further still, many parents or guardians prefer to inspect collected treats at home or at treat inspection locations (e.g. police station, fire station, etc.) prior to treat consumption by the child. However, young children are often not disciplined enough to wait for such inspection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus. In a first embodiment, the container defines a generally spherical shaped container having an open upper end, a flange ending from the opening, and a handle swivelably connected to the container, and a funnel removably attached to the container flange. The container preferably resembles a jack-o-lantern and is preferably generally orange in color. The funnel extends into the inner cavity of the container and is preferably substantially clear. The funnel functions so as to allow collected treats to be readily dropped into the container through the funnel and yet functions to prevent spillage of the collected treats from within the container. The funnel length and/or opening size is preferably adapted such that although a treat will readily pass through the funnel, a child's hand is substantially prevented from reaching into the inner cavity of the container to retrieve a treat from the container. The apparatus is further preferably adapted to provide an indication if the funnel is removed from the container.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view or top orthographic view of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a trimetric view of the funnel of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom orthographic view of the funnel of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 a is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in an upright position with treats depicted contained in the lower portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity;

FIG. 5 b is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in a substantially 90 degree rotated position with treats depicted contained in a side portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity;

FIG. 5 c is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in an upside-down position with treats depicted contained in the upper portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity;

FIG. 6 a is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “6” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in an pre-fastened configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity;

FIG. 6 b is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “6” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in an fastened configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity;

FIG. 7 a is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “7” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in a pre-engaged configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity, and;

FIG. 7 b is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “7” in FIG. 2, the invention is shown in an engaged configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FEATURE TABLE # Feature 10 Apparatus 20 Container 22 Opening 24 Flanges 26 Flange gaps 28 Stake retention hole 29 Button retention hole 30 Handle 40 Funnel 42 Lower opening 44 Central opening 46 Ramp 48 Upper opening 50 Lower flanges 52 Upper flange 54 Flexible tabs 56 Stakes 58 Prongs 59 Button 60 Flange connection web 62 Funnel grips 70 Rivets 80 Removable label 90 Treat

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus (SRTETCCA) 10. Apparatus 10 comprises a container 20, a handle 30, a funnel 40, a plurality of rivets 70, and an optional removable label 80. Container 20 preferably defines a generally spherically shaped blown molded plastic container having a generally circular shaped opening 22 in the top of container 20 with a plurality of flanges 24 extending radially inward from opening 22, with flange gaps 26 being formed therebetween, and with each container flange 24 having a stake retention hole 28 formed therein. Container 20 is preferably orange in color and preferably resembles a jack-o-lantern but may resemble other things such as a ghost, a witch, a monster, an animal, etc. One of the ways in which container 20 in defines over other spill resistant containers is that the volumetric capacity of container 20 is much greater than the capacity of other spill resistant containers so as to provide for the collecting of treats. Container 20 in a substantially spherical configuration is preferably approximately 12 inches in diameter resulting in an approximate 904 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 416 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity (i.e. somewhat less than half of the total volumetric capacity). However, container 20 may be larger than noted such as a container having an approximate 14 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 1,436 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 661 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity, or may be smaller than noted such as a container having an approximate 10 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 523 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 241 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity, or a container having an approximate 8 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 268 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 123 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity. Handle 30 preferably defines a generally flat elongated flexible extruded black plastic handle. Funnel 40 preferably defines a clear injection molded plastic funnel having a lower opening 42, a central opening 44, a ramp 46, an upper opening 48, a plurality of lower flanges 50, and an upper flange 52. Funnel upper flange 52 includes a plurality of flexible tabs 54 formed in the flange, with each tab 54 having a stake 56 extending therefrom, and each stake having at least one prong 58 extending therefrom. Each of funnel lower flanges 50 is connected to funnel upper flange 52 by a flange connection web 60. Funnel ramp 46 further preferably includes a plurality of funnel grips 62 formed therein. Funnel 40, by virtue of the size of lower opening 42 and/or central opening 44 and/or the length of funnel 40, is preferably adapted such that a treat may readily pass through funnel 40 and yet hand access through funnel 40 to a treat 90 contained within container 20 is substantially restricted. Funnel lower opening 42 may for instance have a circular opening of 1.0 inches in diameter or an opening of an equivalent cross-sectional area (i.e. approximately 0.78 in²). Alternatively, funnel lower opening 42 may be larger than a 1.0 inch diameter equivalent cross-sectional area opening. Optional removable label 80 preferably defines a semi-adhesive label which may include product information and advertising thereon and may also serve to prevent debris from entering container 20 before apparatus 10 is used by a consumer.

The spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus 10 is assembled such that each end of handle 30 is swivelably riveted via rivets 70 to a side of container 20 to provide for a swivelable handle. Funnel 40 is attached to container 20 by passing funnel lower opening 42 through container opening 22 and by passing funnel lower flanges 50 through container flange gaps 26 until funnel upper flange 52 rests against container flange 24. Grasping funnel grips 62, funnel 40 is then rotated relative to container 20 approximately 90 degrees (CW in a top view orientation) until further rotation is restricted by flange connection webs 60. Stakes 56 are then pressed into exposed stake retention holes 28 such that stake prongs 58 engage with container flanges 24. With funnel 40 thus attached to container 20, funnel 40 cannot be removed from container 20 without such removal being made evident. Funnel 40 remains fastened to container 20 unless and until stakes 56 or stake prongs 58 are severed in order to remove funnel 40 from container 20. Label 80 is optionally removably adhered to upper funnel flange 52 and/or container flanges 24. In addition to providing for product information and advertising space, label 80 prevents unwanted articles and debris from entering the apparatus during product transit and sale (such unwanted entered articles and debris being difficult to extract from apparatus 10 without removal of funnel 40 from container 20).

In practice, a user (such as a child) uses spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus 10 to collect treats 90 when trick-or-treating. It shall be noted for the purposes of this application that in once instance, treat shall mean an edible and preferably wrapped confection, and more preferably an individually wrapped edible confection and in another instance, treat shall mean in addition to an edible confection, toys, trinkets, seasonal erasers, action figures, money, or the like such as would be collected when trick-or-treating. It shall be further noted that the use of apparatus 10 is not limited to the Halloween season, but rather apparatus 10 may be used on other treat collecting occasions such as Easter. When treat 90 is obtained, it is dropped onto or in funnel 40. Treat 90 then falls into the inner cavity of container 20 and remains therein substantially regardless of the orientation of apparatus 10 and substantially regardless of the efforts of the user or an unscrupulous third party to extract treat 90 from apparatus 10. Upon completion of the trick-o-treating session, the user preferably returns home, and by an adult or under close adult supervision funnel 40 is removed from container 20 and treats 90 are preferably inspected by the adult and then consumed and/or used by the user at a rate of the adult's choosing. Further in practice, funnel 40 is removed from the container by severing flexible funnel tabs 54, and then grasping funnel grips 62 and rotating funnel 40 relative to container 20 approximately 90 degrees (CCW in a top view orientation). Funnel 40 is then lifted out of container 20 and treats 90 are readily accessible.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5 and 7 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the invention is substantially identical to the first embodiment of the invention except that container 20 includes button retention holes 29 instead of stake retention holes 28 and except that funnel 40 includes buttons 59 that snappingly engage upwardly into button retention holes 29 of container flange 24 instead of stakes 56 that engage downwardly into stake retention holes 28 of container flange 24. Further, in order to remove the funnel 40 from container 20, instead of severing flexible funnel tabs 54, buttons 59 are simultaneously depressed (without destroying funnel 40) and funnel 40 may then be rotated and lifted out of container 20. In the second embodiment, apparatus 10 is not tamper evident per se but apparatus 10 is reusable (funnel 40 can be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from the container) and the disengagement is difficult to perform for a small child (e.g. a child, having less dexterity and smaller hands than an adult is not able to depress buttons 59 simultaneously while rotating funnel 40).

In third embodiment, apparatus 10 is substantially similar to the first embodiment except that funnel 40 merely snaps onto (and off of) container 20. In a fourth embodiment, apparatus 10 is substantially similar to the first embodiment except that funnel 40 merely threads onto (and off of) container 20. 

1. A collection apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity, said funnel being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, wherein said funnel is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches and being adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation and to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and an apparatus adapted to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area.
 8. A spill resistant collection apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a container opening member having an opening, said opening being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said opening, wherein said opening member is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of apparatus contents when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus having an open funnel extending into said inner cavity, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches and being adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation and to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and an apparatus adapted to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said open opening of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said container is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said container is substantially unrestricted.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area.
 15. A spill resistant assembleable and disassembleable apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity, said funnel being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, wherein said funnel is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of apparatus contents when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that disassembly of said apparatus is child resistant, an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus has been opened or disassembled, said opening or said disassembly is rendered evident even if said apparatus is closed or reassembled, and an apparatus adapted such that said funnel allows passage of a treat through said funnel, and such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to apparatus contents is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident even if said apparatus is closed or reassembled.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said container has a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area.
 22. A container apparatus defining at least one of a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity and a removable barrier adhered to said container so as to block the passage of articles between said container exterior and said container inner cavity, wherein said funnel is, but for said removable barrier, adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, and wherein said funnel is free of a structure connected to an underside thereof, and wherein when said removable barrier is removed from said container, said apparatus is free of a structure that impedes said passage of said articles into said inner cavity, and a container having an inner cavity and a container opening member having an opening and a removable barrier adhered to said container so as to block the passage of articles between said container exterior and said container inner cavity, wherein said container opening is, but for said removable barrier, adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said container opening, and wherein said opening member is free of a structure connected to an underside thereof, and wherein when said removable barrier is removed from said container, said apparatus is free of a structure that impedes said passage of said articles into said inner cavity and yet said container resists the spillage of container contents when said container is oriented in any orientation.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant. 